PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jhonny Batongbato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tito Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Batongbato
vs
Ortiz

180 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jhonny Batongbato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tito Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Batongbato fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ortiz sprawls well initially but Batongbato persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ortiz looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Batongbato wants to work for an arm triangle but Ortiz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Batongbato thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ortiz's head.
Ortiz tries to get to full guard but Batongbato has control of the leg.
Batongbato is looking to take a break and control but Ortiz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Batongbato is thwarting Ortiz's attempts to control the position.
Ortiz tries to roll over but Batongbato keeps him under control.
Batongbato wants to free his trapped foot but Ortiz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Batongbato seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ortiz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ortiz is trying to get back to full guard.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batongbato wants to stand up but Ortiz is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Batongbato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ortiz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Batongbato tries to clinch but Ortiz is having none of it.
Batongbato doesn't manage to clinch there - Ortiz circles away.
Batongbato shoots in for a takedown but Ortiz shows good takedown defense.

Batongbato gets caught napping as Ortiz dives in and scores a takedown. Batongbato manages to retain guard.
Batongbato looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ortiz is one step ahead there.
Batongbato is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ortiz is controlling him.
Batongbato keeping full guard, as Ortiz tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batongbato trying to keep a closed guard but Ortiz is proving a slippery customer.
Ortiz preventing the sweep.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Ortiz trying to control but Batongbato is working from the bottom.
Batongbato trying to control the position.
Batongbato keeping moving, preventing Ortiz from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Batongbato throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Batongbato closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ortiz's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batongbato postures up in Ortiz's guard and throws a big left but Ortiz blocks it.
Batongbato trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Batongbato postures up and lands a big shot to Ortiz's brow.
Ortiz trying to control the position.
Ortiz keeping full guard, as Batongbato tries to pass.
Batongbato passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Batongbato wants to control but Ortiz is keeping him busy.
Batongbato wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ortiz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ortiz wants to improve his position but Batongbato is controlling well.
Batongbato is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ortiz tries to roll over but Batongbato keeps him under control.
Ortiz is staying active underneath Batongbato, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhonny Batongbato dominated that round.
That's time! Batongbato's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice takedown defense from Ortiz. No joy for Batongbato on that attempt.
Batongbato shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ortiz as he avoids it easily.
Batongbato tries to clinch but Ortiz is having none of it.
Ortiz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Batongbato rushes Ortiz and presses him up against the cage.
Batongbato is trying to break the clinch but Ortiz is controlling him.
Batongbato tries to pull guard but Ortiz holds him up against the cage and eventually Batongbato drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhonny Batongbato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Batongbato is trying to push Ortiz away but Ortiz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Batongbato wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ortiz has him pressed against the cage.
Batongbato misses with a hook to the ribs.
Batongbato drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ortiz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batongbato drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ortiz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Batongbato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz takes an elbow to the temple.
Batongbato stops a takedown attempt from Ortiz.
Batongbato is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ortiz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Batongbato wants to break the clinch but can't.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Batongbato drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ortiz gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Ortiz has hold of one of Batongbato's legs. Batongbato is fighting the takedown attempt but Ortiz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ortiz pushes down on Batongbato's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ortiz slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batongbato is staying active underneath Ortiz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet.

Tito Ortiz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Batongbato scores with a head kick.
Tito Ortiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Batongbato tries for a takedown but Ortiz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Batongbato lands with a shot to the body.
Batongbato fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batongbato wants to clinch up but Ortiz keeps it at a distance.
Ortiz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Batongbato sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Batongbato changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ortiz tries to avoid it but Batongbato manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ortiz to the ground. Ortiz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Batongbato is defended easily by Ortiz.
Ortiz on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Batongbato tries to clinch but Ortiz is having none of it.
Batongbato with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ortiz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Batongbato won't be happy with that.
Ortiz is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Ortiz gets to mount! Batongbato was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz avoids the attempt from Batongbato to control.
Ortiz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ortiz wants to control the pace but Batongbato is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Ortiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Batongbato throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ortiz's waist but Ortiz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Batongbato off to one side.
Batongbato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ortiz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ortiz wants it to stay on the feet.
Batongbato tries to clinch there but Ortiz circles away.
Ortiz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Batongbato but Batongbato pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Batongbato tries for a takedown but Ortiz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhonny Batongbato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ortiz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Batongbato.
Batongbato plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ortiz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Batongbato.
A combination from Batongbato does no damage.

Ortiz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Batongbato did well to prevent Ortiz getting side control.
Batongbato wants to control the action here but instead Ortiz manages to pass to full mount!
Ortiz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batongbato keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ortiz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ortiz blocks Batongbato's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Batongbato tries to hold on but Ortiz postures up.
Ortiz trying to control but Batongbato is having none of it.
Batongbato keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tito Ortiz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ortiz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ortiz wants to control the pace but Batongbato is squirming around nicely.
Ortiz content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Batongbato is looking to escape.
Batongbato is looking to get to half guard.
Ortiz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Batongbato is trying desperately to improve position.
Batongbato really wants to buck Ortiz off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ortiz controlling from mount.
Batongbato tries to hold on but Ortiz pushes him away.
Batongbato is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ortiz controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortiz with the ground and pound from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tito Ortiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ortiz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tito Ortiz!